When I ran this without that, I didn't see the prompt or any of the output. I was running ActivePerl 5.8.8 in an rxvt window. If I run cygwin perl, I don't need the $|=1, or if I run either perl in a DOS box, I don't need it. Dunno why.

Went to join the gridlock to see it
Held an eclipse party
Watched a live feed
I cn"t see tge kwubosd to amswr thus
I tried to see it, but 8000 miles of rock got in the way
What eclipse?
Wanted to see it, but they wouldn't reschedule it
Read the book instead